5 EASY Cocktails That Will Make You A Home Bartender

You'll hear us say this a ton, but we mean it - this will be easy and stress-free! It's okay to make a mistake or two especially since you're at home learning - don't be too hard on yourself. Netflix's bartending series Drink Masters introduced us to a home bartender named Natalie Migliarini! She didn't have the same studies or experience as some of the other bartenders, but she hung in there for as long as she could! What got her on the show was the hard work she puts into creating beautiful cocktails on her Instagram/Website "Beautiful Booze". She considers herself a home bartender or Instagram bartender - learning new things as she grows over the years. You can be like Natalie too, all it takes is just one step - we've got you covered with your first 5 EASY cocktails to make at home.

The Mojito - always a go-to summer drink that's not only refreshing but super easy to make! Great author Earnest Hemmingway understood this as he absolutely was said to have LOVED mojitos. Here's a list of ingredients you'll need:

• Fresh Mint
• White Rum (whatever kind you choose or may already have on hand.)
• Fresh Lime Juice (we prefer the lime straight from the source as it adds a bright and tart flavor, but you can use pre-squeezed if that's more up your alley.)
• Sugar or Simple Syrup (simple syrup keeps things easy and may even enhance the taste of the mojito, but there's nothing wrong with the classic sugar that's used as well.)
• Sparkling Water or Club Soda (this will balance out the alcohol and the hard hit from the fresh lime)
• Ice

The tools you'll need to make sure you have some variation of in your kitchen are:

• Knife
• Strainer
• Shaker (you can make your own by combining two secure cups)
• Cocktail Muddler
• Summer Attitude

With everything set up, you're ready to go!

1. First, grab your mint, you can dice it into quarter-size pieces or leave them as whole leaves.
2. Toss the mint into your shaker and use your cocktail muddler to press until the delicious smells of mint fill your nose.
3. Remember, DON'T crush the mint, just work it slightly to get the oils out.
4. Add your rum, lime juice, simple syrup, and then some ice. The amount you add of each will vary on your specific tastes. Use this time to experiment!
5. SHAKE
6. After combining and chilling your ingredients, pour the mixture through a strainer into a glass filled with ice.
7. Garnish time - add in your sparkling water or club soda, and add some limes and fresh mint as is.
8. Taste to adjust and you're ready to go! If you want it a tad sweeter - feel free to add more sugar. If you prefer a more tangy flavor, you may add additional lime to the mixture.

CHEERS!

The Negroni is looked at as one of the world's most classic cocktails. There are multiple accounts surrounding the origin of this drink, but a commonly accepted story attributes it to Count Negroni, who requested a potent gin-based drink at a bar in Florence, Italy. The Negroni cocktail has a bitter taste, but the addition of an orange garnish works wonders in balancing its flavor.

Here are the ingredients you'll need for this star:

• Dry Gin (whatever you like or whatever you have available at home)
• Vermouth (Martini & Rossi Rubino is a great choice for this)
• Bitters (Martini & Rossi Riserva Bitter Liqueur is a nice choice for this as well)
• Ice
• Orange Wedge

Tools you'll need for this:

• Strainer
• Jigger
• Prepared taste buds

Let's dive straight in!

1. Fill your cup with ice!
2. Grab your jigger and measure out about 25ML of each alcohol listed above, pouring each into your cup.
3. STIR
4. Garnish time! Peel your orange wedge and add the curly peel inside the cup.

ENJOY!

Just like the Negroni, the margarita's origins are hard to pinpoint. What we do know with absolute certainty is that a fresh, crisp margarita works for any occasion! Let's give you this recipe to have in your back pocket for parties!

Ingredients include:

• Salt or Sugar (for glass rims) (1 tbsp)
• High-Quality Tequila (120ml)
• Triple Sec (60ml)
• 1 Lime Wedge
• 2 Lime Wheels (Garnish)
• Fresh Lime Juice (45 ml) (either from lime or pre-squeezed)

Tools needed:

• Jigger
• Shaker
• Strainer
• Care-Free Spirit

So how exactly do we make one of the most popular party drinks out there? Simple!

1. Pour your sugar/salt onto a small plate or cutting board.
2. Grab the glasses you'll be using and run the lime wedge around the rims.
3. Dip the glasses rim side down into your salt or sugar - put to the side for later.
4. We're gonna work and mix within your shaker now - using your jigger add your Triple Sec, tequila, and lime juice.
5. Fill the shaker with ice.
6. SHAKE (roughly 15 secs or until chilled)
7. Fill your sugar or salt-rimmed glasses with some ice
8. Strain contents from the shaker into both glasses
9. Garnish time! Add your lime wheels to your drinks.

CHEERS!

You've probably heard of a Tequila Sunrise, how about a Tequila Sunset? This drink can help you unwind after a long day and is great to have in your home bartender tool belt. The spice of tequila compliments the sweetness tremendously. The difference between the Sunset and the Sunrise? The Sunset uses grapefruit juice rather than the orange juice found in the Sunrise.


Here are the ingredients you'll need:

• Tequila Blanco (60ml) (whatever you have on hand or are open to going out to purchase to try)
• Fresh Grapefruit Juice (60ml) (some of been known to try a blend of pineapple and orange juice for a sweet flavor)
• Grenadine Syrup (30ml)
• Maraschino Cherry and/or Mandarin Slice
• Ice (optional)

Tools you'll need include:

• Jigger
• Relaxing Music

Shall we begin?

1. Fill your glass with ice - if desired.
2. Squeeze your grapefruit juice and set it to the side.
3. Use your jigger to measure out your tequila and grapefruit juice and empty it into your glass (This will fill your glass halfway)
4. Add your delicious grenadine which will not only sweeten the drink but give it that sunset look.
5. Garnish time! Add your mandarin slice and/or your cherry, whichever you're in the mood for. There's nothing wrong with both!

BOTTOMS UP!

Rupert Holmes's iconic song "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" from 1979 piqued the interest of several who had never had one before. It's been described as a "tropical paradise in glass" and we couldn't agree more. It's sweet, but not as sweet as you may be led to believe - depends on the amount of rum you use versus pineapple juice. Standing out from the others on this list it not only has the most ingredients, but it incorporates a different flavor, coconut.

Ingredients needed are:

• White Rum (45 ml) (Pick one of your choice or whatever you have on hand at home)
• Dark Rum (30 ml) (you can ask for some recommendations at your local store)
• Diced Pineapples (1/2 cup) (frozen if possible)
• Pineapple Juice (30ml) (pre-squeezed/canned is okay)
• Coconut Cream (30 ml or 2 oz)
• Pineapple Slices and/or Maraschino Cherry
• Ice (1 & 1/2 cups)

Key tools needed:

• Blender
• 2 Glasses
• A Vacation Mindset

Let's get started!

1. Grab your blender and put in: ice, frozen pineapples, coconut cream, rums, and juice
2. Blend until smooth BUT frosty. Don't forget to stop it to open it and check it.
3. Adjust to taste as you're blending - remember more pineapple juice if you're looking for a sweeter Piña Colada and more rum if you're looking for something with more bite.
4. Pour drink into your glasses and...
5. Garnish! Add your pineapple slices to the rim along with your cherry. Feel free to add a little umbrella for some vacation flare for your guests.

Now you have 5 drinks to keep in your back pocket for parties and gathers whether at your place or someone else's. You don't have to do a lot and you are free to experiment and swap out garnishes and flavors with others in some of the classics such as the margarita! Let us know which of these drinks you plan on trying.